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Differences between British and American English

Introduction British and American English can be differentiated in three ways:

o Differences in language use conventions: meaning and spelling of words, grammar

and punctuation differences.

o Vocabulary: There are a number of important differences, particularly in business

terminology.

o Differences in the ways of using English dictated by the different cultural values of

the two countries.

Our clients choose between British or American English, and we then apply the

conventions of the version consistently.

Differences in language use conventions Here are some of the key differences in language use conventions.

1. Dates. In British English, the standard way of writing dates is to put the day of

the month as a figure, then the month (either as a figure or spelled out) and then

the year. For example, 19 September 1973 or 19.09.73. The standard way of

writing dates in American English is to put the month first (either as a figure or

spelled out), then the day of the month, and then the year. For example,

September 19th 1973 or 9/19/73. Commas are also frequently inserted after the

day of the month in the USA. For example, September 19, 1973.

2. o and ou. In British English, the standard way of writing words that might include

either the letter o or the letters ou is to use the ou form. For example, colour,

humour, honour, behaviour. The standard way of writing such words in American

English is to use only o. For example, color, humor, honor, behavior.

3. Through. In American English, the word through (or thru) can be used to mean

until. For example, ‘September 19th thru October 1st’, would be in British English

‘19 September until 1 October’.

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4. Hyphens. Hyphens are often used in British English to connect prefixes with the

main word. For example, pre-emption, pre-trial, co-operation. They are less

common in American English. For example, preemption, pretrial, cooperation.

5. z or s? In British English, s is generally used in such words as recognise,

authorise. The letter z is used in American English in such words as recognize or

authorize. However, it is not wrong to use z in such words when using British

English as standard.

6. Note, however, that some words must always end in -ise whether you are using

British or American English standards. These include:

i. advertise advise

ii. arise comprise

iii. compromise demise

iv. despise devise

v. disguise enfranchise

vi. excise exercise

vii. franchise improvise

viii. incise merchandise

ix. premise revise

x. supervise surmise

xi. surprise televise

7. l or ll? In American English, a single l is used in such words as traveled or

counseled. In British English, ll is used (e.g. travelled, counselled).

8. Note, however, that in British English, some words that end in a double ll lose one

l when a suffix is added: skill becomes skilfully, will becomes wilfully. In American

English, the double ll is retained: skill becomes skillfully, will becomes willfully.

9. -re or -er? In American English, the -er ending is used in words like theater,

center, meter, and fiber. In British English, these words are spelt theatre, centre,

metre, and fibre.

10. oe and ae. Some scientific terms retain the use of the classical composite vowels

oe and ae in British English. These include diarrhoea, anaesthetic, gynaecology,

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and homoeopathy. In American English, a single e replaces the composite vowel:

diarrhea, anesthetic, gynecology, homeopathy.

11. -e or -ue?. In British English, the final silent -e or -ue is retained in such words as

analogue, axe and catalogue. In American English, it is omitted: analog, ax, and

catalog.

12. -eable or -able?. The silent e, produced when forming some adjectives with a

suffix is generally used in British English in such words as likeable, unshakeable,

and ageing. In American English, it is generally left out: likable, unshakable, and

aging. The e is however sometimes used in American English where it affects the

sound of the preceding consonant: traceable or manageable.

13. -ce or -se? In British English the verb that relates to a noun ending in -ce is

sometimes given the ending -se. For example, advice (noun) / advise (verb),

device/devise, licence/license, practice/practise. American English uses -se for

both the noun and verb forms of these words. It also uses -se for other nouns

which in British English are spelt -ce, including defense, offense, pretense.

14. Prepositions. In American English, it is acceptable to omit prepositions in certain

situations. In British English, this habit is less common. For example, an

American lawyer might find a certain clause in a contract to be ‘likely

enforceable’. A British colleague would be more likely to say that it was ‘likely to

be enforceable’. An American civil rights activist might ‘protest discrimination’,

while his British colleagues would ‘protest against discrimination’.

15. Have and got. In American English it is quite acceptable to use the word got

without have in sentences like ‘I got two tickets for the show tonight’. In British

English, it is more usual to say ‘I’ve got two tickets for the show tonight’.

16. Gotten. Gotten is a proper word in American English, but is only used as an

Americanism in British English, except in certain phrases such as ‘ill-gotten gains’.

17. While or whilst? Both while and whilst are used in British English. In American

English, while is the right word to use, and whilst is regarded as a pretentious

affectation.

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18. The past tense and past participle of the verbs learn, spoil, spell (only in the

word-related sense), burn, dream, smell, spill, leap, and others, can be either

irregular (learnt, spoilt, etc.) or regular (learned, spoiled, etc.). In British English,

both irregular and regular forms are used, but the irregular forms tend to be used

more often. In AmE, only the regular form is used.

19. Directional suffix -ward(s): British forwards, towards, rightwards, etc.; American

forward, toward, rightward.

20. Full stops/Periods in abbreviations: In American English, we write "Mr.", "Mrs.",

"St.", "Dr." etc., while in British it is usually "Mr", "Mrs", "St", "Dr", etc.

21. Quotation marks: In British English, single quotation marks are used, and in

American English, double quotation marks are used. In British English, double

quotation marks are used within the single quotation marks, whereas in American

English, single quotation marks are used inside double quotation marks.

22. Period and comma: In British English, the period and comma are placed outside

quotation marks. However, if the punctuation mark is a part of the quote itself,

then the quotation mark is placed after the period or comma. In American

English, the period and comma are always placed inside quotation marks.

23. In British English, i.e. and e.g. are used, whereas in American English, i.e., and

e.g., are used.

24. Serial commas are used in American English but not in British English.

25. Use of the Present Perfect:

In British English the present perfect is used to express an action that has

occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment. For

example: I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it?

In American English the following is also possible: I lost my key. Can you help me

look for it?

In British English the above would be considered incorrect. However, both forms

are generally accepted in standard American English. Other differences involving

the use of the present perfect in British English and simple past in American

English include already, just and yet.

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British English:

I've just had lunch

I've already seen that film

Have you finished your homework yet?

American English:

I just had lunch OR I've just had lunch

I've already seen that film OR I already saw that film.

Have your finished your homework yet? OR Did you finish your homework yet?

Vocabulary Here are some key vocabulary differences.

British American

aerial (tv) antenna

aluminium aluminum

anti-clockwise counterclockwise

at weekends on weekends

cheque (bank) check

film movie

grey gray

holiday vacation

manoeuvre maneuver

metre meter

plough plow

post mail

programme program

sceptical skeptical

storey (of building) story, floor

towards toward

transport transportation

tyre tire

yours faithfully respectfully yours / yours truly

yours sincerely (letter) sincerely yours

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Difference related to cultural values British and American English have a number of differences which relate to the different

cultural values of the two countries. For example, British English contains a number of

frequently used metaphors relating to football (‘scoring an own goal’) and cricket (‘a

sticky wicket’), while American English uses metaphors relating to baseball (‘in the ball

park’).

The two versions of the language also have certain tendencies which are worth bearing

in mind. These are not absolute, since individual writers have their own styles which may

incorporate aspects of both British and American tendencies. However, in general:

• British English tends to react more slowly to new words and phrases than

American English. American English enthusiastically adopts new usages, some of

which later pass into general use (e.g. corporate citizen, social performance), and

some die out after a short period in fashion (e.g. synergy).

• British English has a slight tendency to vagueness and ponderous diction.

American English (at its best) tends to be more direct and vivid.

• American English tends to be more slangy than British English.

• Both American and British English are keen on euphemisms. In British English,

these are often used for humorous purposes (e.g. to be economical with the

truth) or to smooth over something unpleasant. In American English they may be

used for prudish reasons (thus lavatory or WC becomes restroom or bathroom),

to make something mundane sound important (thus ratcatcher becomes rodent

operative), or to cover up the truth of something unpleasant (thus civilian deaths

in war become collateral damage).

• We would also like to recommend different approaches to copy and substantive

editing:

• doing two to three passes for substantive edits and two passes for normal edits

would suffice to ensure that no typographical or grammatical inconsistencies are

left in the document.American English has a tendency to lengthen unnecessarily

existing words in an effort to make them sound more important (thus transport

becomes transportation).

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Frequently Asked Questions Q. The client has formatted the document in British English, and the journal too

is a British one, but the instructions say use American English? What should I

do?

A. In such a case, do not change the English throughout the manuscript. Keep British

English, and write a remark.

Q. It is a British journal, but it uses the “Oxford Comma”; what does that

mean?

A. An Oxford Comma is simply a serial comma used in BrE:

http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutother/oxfordcomma

Q. This Elsevier journal is completely confusing. It says use UK Grammar, with

US spellings. Is that right?

A. Yes. The thumb rule is that the Journal Guidelines always overrule the English

instructions given by the client. Also, please write a Remark about this to bring this to

the author’s notice as a journal instruction.

Further Reading ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_and_British_English_differences

⇒ http://english2american.com/